MIKE GANTER, QMI Agency

He has been kicked out of practice by his own coach and his attitude has been openly questioned.

But for the most part, on the court, Cousins has been pretty darn good for the Sacramento Kings.

Joey Dorsey, who got an unexpected start in place of Amir Johnson for the Raptors on Sunday, specifically to contend with Cousins’ bulk, believes people should stop listening to the perceived reputation the Kings rookie brought with him to the league and start looking at what he is doing for his team.

Dorsey admits he is a bit biased when it comes to Cousins because he sees a little of himself there.

“You can compare his attitude to mine,” Dorsey said. “(John Calipari, who coached Dorsey at Memphis and Cousins at Kentucky) said it. He was just like me in college. Just his body language, it’s the same thing with me. But on the floor he brings it every night so it doesn’t matter what his body language says.”

Pay more attention

Dorsey admits the Calipari link to the two players has made him pay a little more attention to Cousins than he otherwise might have, and has made a point of staying in touch with him.

“I talk to him all the time,” Dorsey said. “I tell him to keep a level head. He’s going to be a great player. He just has to stick with it and not get frustrated.”

Dorsey said he understands, to a point, the negativity that follows a guy like Cousins.

“I see why they think it,” Dorsey said. “He had it in college, too. That’s what Cal always said to me: Body language is everything.

“People can read negativity into it, thinking that you’re down on yourself, but I thought he played good tonight.”

Cousins had 18 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes and has worked his way of late back into head coach Paul Westphal’s good graces.

“I think DeMarcus is a completely different player than he was earlier in the year and when Tyreke (Evans) is healthy it makes us a threat to win anytime we play,” Westphal said.